William R. Richardson: “New Mexico is the driest that it has been in 101 years. People in the West need help from a severe drought that has…”

“New Mexico is the driest that it has been in 101 years. People in the West need help from a severe drought that has devastated New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and southern California. I rise in strong support of this legislation which will offer some relief for ranchers who do not have feed for their cattle. The dry conditions mean no pasture, no hay, and a limited amount of grain. The shortage of grain on a worldwide basis has heightened the already disastrous situation for ranchers affected by the drought. Because of a lack of grain, producers in my district are being forced to sit back and watch their cattle starve. This legislation will allow the USDA to release 46 million bushels of feed grain that is being held in reserves. Although this resolution is not amendable I would like to urge the USDA to make this grain available directly to the ranchers in the drought affected States who are in need. New Mexico ranchers need this relief now.”